Group lobbies for sculpture of poet

James K Baxter sketch WGP 19Aug16 - WGP 24Aug16 - A sketch of the proposed sculpture of James K Baxter. PICTURE / SUPPLIED

A Whanganui community organisation has started a campaign to create New Zealand's first life-sized bronze sculpture of famed poet James K Baxter. The group, known as The Guyton Group Trust, was formed four years ago by business owners, residents and workers in Guyton St. The CBD situated street is home to private art galleries, cafes, design and architecture firms, tattoo parlours, restaurants and bars. The residents decided to form a group to lobby for improvements to their street. A fortuitous conversation between local sculptor Joan Bullock Morrell and Guyton Group Chairperson Lesley Stead sparked the idea for a life-sized bronze sculpture of James K Baxter and the group decided to take on the project. Joan Bullock Morrell sculpted Baxter in the late 1960s and created a bronze bust of the poet. The two shared a mutual admiration for each other's work and struck up a friendship that lasted until Baxter's death in 1972. The Guyton St location for the sculpture has been chosen based on a moment that Joan shared with Baxter shortly before his death.
Baxter frequently visited Whanganui town while living at Jerusalem/Hiruharama on the Whanganui River. Joan bumped into him on Guyton St where they shared a final conversation before he travelled to Auckland where he subsequently passed away.
"The site chosen for the work is based on a personal moment between a sculptor and her subject, however the design for the sculpture itself represents many locals' memories of James," says project fundraising co-ordinator Elise Goodge. "The sculpture will be of James striding down the street, barefoot, in the shabby suit he always wore, with his long hair and beard, deep in contemplation."
The completion of the sculpture will represent the first phase in a wider project to recognise and celebrate Baxter's work. Once the sculpture is in place a poetry trail will complement it, beginning in Guyton St and culminating at Jerusalem/Hiruharama where Baxter is buried.
The group has raised $15,000 to date from Whanganui groups, including the Wanganui Powerco Trust, Mainstreet Wanganui Inc and Whanganui District Council. The group has started a Givealittle page to help raise further funds via donations. The page includes a video and interview with the sculptor Joan Morrell Bullock.Visit givealittle.co.nz/cause/jameskbaxterproject. The campaign will run until Friday, September 16.